Southern Steel unaware of threats to Plummer

Southern Steel officials were unaware of any threat made against West Coast Fever coach Norma Plummer before Saturday's game in Dunedin.

Steel, who hosted the match at the Edgar Centre, had not been told about the situation, which dated back to a comment left on Plummer's personal website late last year.

A statement from the Fever said after an investigation it was believed that the comment had been left by someone from Dunedin, and with the team travelling to the south for the round four game on Saturday, Netball Western Australia contacted the Australian Federal Police, who then contacted their New Zealand counterparts.

"The safety of the team and its support staff is Netball WA's highest priority," the statement said.

"Norma and her team are currently in preparations for their match against the WBOP Magic this Sunday and will be unavailable for comment on this matter."

The Steel confirmed yesterday that the Fever had made no mention of the threat and no additional security had been arranged.

Trans-Tasman competition games in Invercargill and Dunedin have three security staff attached to them, whose duties include keeping people away from the team benches and off the court at the end of the game.

Plummer has coached the Fever since retiring as Australian netball coach after winning the 2011 world championships.

She earned the ire of some New Zealand netball fans when she said the Silver Ferns had played like a bunch of "scrubbers" in the 2003 world championship final.